Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 504: Difference Engine

These Carsonrickians were diplomatic officials stationed in Tobesk from the United Kingdom of Carsonrick. After being invited to attend the Queen's birthday party, they were stopped by Bishop Owen, who wanted to inquire about the events held by the Velindale Parish of Carsonrick's capital during this year's Holy Prayer Day.

Both parties were happy to have the conversation, but due to a shortage of translators, Priest Augustus had to pull Shard in to serve as a translator.

Velindale City in the United Kingdom of Carsonrick is broadly considered the core of the southern part of the Old Continent. Much like Tobesk, Velindale City firmly controls the entire United Kingdom with its status as a political, economic, and cultural center.

Although the capitals of the two nations are one in the north and one in the south, both are located towards the west side of the Old Continent. Priest Augustus had visited Velindale City in his youth, which is why he could speak some Carsonrickian.

They hadn't been talking with these foreigners for long when the King's attendant officer hurried over, saying that King Larus III wanted to see these diplomatic envoys.

It is generally customary to notify and prepare in advance for when the King meets with diplomatic officials, so such an abrupt summons was truly puzzling. Nonetheless, the Carsonrickians could not refuse, and so they bid farewell to the group from the Dawn Church.

Shard was thinking of discussing the topic of demons further with Priest Augustus, but the Dawn Church had more business to attend to that evening.

They soon found Bishop Nelson of the Peace Church in the parish, as well as Priest John Wood of the Church of Creation in the region, and they discussed together at the long dining table in the courtyard about the missionary scope of the Church of the Five Gods in the parish.

"How come the bishop of the Church of Creation didn't come?"

Shard only needed to listen in on this conversation, so he quietly asked Priest Augustus.

But before Priest Augustus could reply, a voice came from behind:

"Bishop Rivest is down with the flu, recovering in the church. He's also 65 years old this year, and he really can't withstand such turmoil."

Shard turned around and saw a burly man behind him wearing a top hat, a monocle over his right eye, and white gloves on his hands. He appeared to be in his forties with neatly cut black hair and a brass-colored Second Ring on his right ear:

"Mr. Sari Pirot."

He introduced himself, then extended his right hand to Shard.

Shard hesitated for a moment before immediately shaking hands. However, he immediately felt that what he was holding was not a human hand; beneath the glove was clearly metal.

"Mr. Hamilton from Rejed, I've heard about you. The card game earlier was quite good, it's a shame I wasn't on the second floor to see it," said the gentleman amiably, with the sound by his ear already giving a hint:

[Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer, if nothing is amiss, this is the "Iron Right Hand" of the Church of Creation.]

Shard swore he was trying hard to control his expression to show a puzzled look:

"Hello, Mr. Pirot, are you a clergy member of the Church of Creation?"

Mr. Pirot, dressed in formal dance attire rather than robes, was also not wearing the common black, but red instead, which was a very fashionable outfit.

"Yes, Shard, let me introduce you."

Priest Augustus was also surprised; although he was not a magician of the Church, he had been in the Tobesk Parish for many years and recognized the gentleman:

"Mr. Sari Pirot, the head of the security team for the Church of Creation and Destruction in this parish. This gentleman was out on official business some days ago and must have just returned to Tobesk."

"That's right, Priest Augustus, long time no see," said Mr. Pirot with a smile, extending his hand to the priest:

"You look just as healthy as ever. However, I've heard you've also been assigned to go on a mission?"

"Yes, yes, I'm already so old, yet the church still arranges for me to go on a business trip to the Northern Slope of Sicarl Mountain."

The Priest half-complained, and Shard was somewhat surprised; he hadn't heard Priest Augustus was leaving Tobesk.

"It's a decision just issued by the Papacy, deploying old clerics from various parishes to the countryside towns to perform some tasks. Lat, this is a good mission, it's like a free autumn trip."

Bishop Owen joined the conversation, holding a cup of wine; it seemed his recent talk with the heathens hadn't gone smoothly:

"Pirot, you're back in Tobesk? How's that matter going now?"

"Although it's not as smooth as imagined, there should be no problems in general. But the church is still worried about thieves getting in at the last moment, so they gave me a two-day break to focus completely on the final wrap-up," said the Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer; he probably assumed Shard couldn't understand, but Shard understood perfectly.

"The church's work really is tough," remarked the young detective, half sincerely and half mockingly.

"Probably not tougher than a detective's work?" joked Bishop Owen:

"I met with President Stan of the Prophet's Society recently over some matters, but I heard you were still on the streets awaiting information in the evening."

This refers to the events of last Saturday when Shard was preparing to meet with Lecia, and President Stan had made a prophecy for Shard.

"No, no, my business isn't actually that booming, just the occasional commission."

"Then in the future, I'll have to introduce some business to you."

Bishop Owen said with a smile, he was a bit older than Priest Augustus and also a commoner, but he looked quite healthy.

"Of course, that would be great, I can offer them a very cheap price."

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Shard responded, then pretended to be curious and asked the Thirteen-Ring Sorcerer beside him:

"Mr. Pirot, what a coincidence to run into you, I actually have some things I'd like to consult about, concerning steam machinery."

The Church of Creation and Destruction was one of the drivers behind the Steam Revolution, standing at the forefront of the rolling tide of the age. Now, within the Church of the Five Gods of the material world, the followers of the Church of Creation were actually the most numerous.

Because this was the Steam Age, some even joked that the Church of Creation and Destruction could be renamed the Steam Church.

"Please ask away."

Mr. Pirot looked at Shard with interest.

"It's like this."

Shard gathered his thoughts, as an Outlander having come to this world, while he had managed to support himself and his cat by working as a detective, there would be more things needing money in the future, so he always wanted to make use of the knowledge from his hometown to do something. But in this Steam Age, there weren't many opportunities left for him, so he wanted to probe into the cutting-edge steam technology:

"I've had some good ideas recently, may I ask if the Church of Creation and Mechanism has heard of a machine completely assembled from gears, levers, and springs, relying on gear combinations to store numbers, a series of gear combinations to store..."

Shard was earnestly explaining his ideas when suddenly, a loud and abrupt whistle cut through the night sky, still lit by fireworks. Shard stopped speaking, and with everyone else in the courtyard, turned to look in the direction of the main building of Yordle Palace.

The slightly shrill whistle came from behind the building.

"The alarm whistle of Yordle Palace."

Bishop Owen explained, but did not seem too worried:

"One whistle is just a minor issue. A few days ago, Sax Cavendish entered with a gun, and the Royal Guard blew the whistle three times, now that was a big problem."

"Excuse me, I think I need to go and check out the situation."

Mr. Pirot apologized and patted Shard on the shoulder, quickly walking along the long table towards the building behind everyone. And with the Circle Sorcerer of the Church of Creation temporarily away, Shard naturally had no chance to continue asking questions.

"It's unknown whether this world has already invented a machine similar to a difference engine."

He stood by the long dining table with Priest Augustus, looking up at the splendid fireworks in the sky.

"Outlander, what is a 'difference engine'?"

"Her" whisper suddenly rang out in his ear, this being one of the rare instances where "she" took the initiative to ask Shard a question.

"A difference engine, huh."

The guests in the courtyard resumed their normal activities, unconcerned about the whistle just now.

"How could the Steam Age be without a difference engine? It is a metallic, automated mathematical tool. Not for simple addition and subtraction, it's capable of processing complex functions, replacing the human brain to perform intricate mathematical analysis and computations with machinery."

Shard leisurely answered in his mind, while Priest Augustus speculated on the cost of the fireworks nearby, seemingly wanting to do the same for the next Year-End Festival.

"In my hometown, due to material limitations, the difference engine of the Steam Age remained but a concept. But in this world, the development of the steam industry has led material science onto a path that my hometown never achieved, it's possible to make a difference engine here."

The Star Ocean vast, as the lights of civilization are not enough to illuminate the entire night sky, so the Outlander could now see a view of the stars twinkling like never before:

"Mathematics is the foundation of natural science; once the automated calculation of a difference engine is realized, this age will become even more splendid than we can imagine, this era of development can last even longer, the light of civilization will continue for an extended period."

"Oh?"

She exclaimed softly in his ear.

"But unfortunately, from the current situation, the people of this world have not yet conceived and manufactured such a machine. So, if I can provide the basic design concepts and the algorithms for the functions, even participate in the crafting of the machinery, not to talk about the practical significance of money and fame, at least I, as an Outlander, could truly leave a mark on this world."

"Quite good."

"She" praised softly in his ear, and Shard also emerged from the scene he had envisioned, deciding to fully enjoy the rest of the banquet.

He did not stay with Priest Augustus for too long because it seemed the Priest had many things to attend to.

Thinking of going upstairs to have a look at the card games, and once Lecia was done with her current matters, to dance with her, Shard turned and walked towards the wide-open doors of the building.

But no sooner had he taken two steps forward than a slightly familiar figure came toward him with a glass in hand. It was the youngest son of the Dimock Earldom, the noble young man who a few hours earlier, in front of his friends, had been scared by Shard's "Spear of Kindness."